(When he had leisure and vacatión From other worldly occupatión) To readen in this book of wicked wives. He knew of them more legends and more lives Than be of goodë wivës in the Bible. For, trust me well, it is an impossíble That any clerk will speakë good of wives, (But if 1984 it be of holy saintës’ lives) Nor of none other woman never the mo’. Who painted the lión, tell it me, who? By God, if women haddë written stories, As clerkës have within their oratóries, They would have writ of men more wickedness Than all the mark of Adam 1985 may redress. The children of Mercury and of Venus, 1986 Be in their working full contrarious. Mercury loveth wisdom and sciénce, And Venus loveth riot and dispence. 1987